Iceland is home to Alþingi, the world's oldest existing parliament.
Alþingi, also known in English as the Althing, was established at Þingvellir in Iceland in Alþingi, also known in English as the Althing, was established at Þingvellir in Iceland in 930. It began as an open-air assembly where chieftains and other participants met to make laws, settle disputes, and hear speeches by the law speaker.
The assembly was suspended in 1800 under Danish rule, then restored in Reykjavík in 1845. Iceland became a sovereign kingdom in 1918 and a republic in 1944; Alþingi remains the country's national legislature.
The phrase “oldest parliament” can be confusing because several institutions claim ancient origins. Alþingi is usually described more precisely as the world's oldest existing or surviving parliamentary institution, despite interruptions and major changes in its powers and location. Þingvellir, its original meeting site, is now a national park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.